Avengers: Endgame (Movie Review) by Vivian R.

“We’re in the endgame now.” Doctor Strange’s ominous warning in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) finally came to pass on April 26, 2019 when Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, was released to the world. Following the events of Infinity War, Endgame was a suspenseful, hilarious, action packed, sentimental, and all-around epic finale to the original Avengers’ journeys.

The film takes place days after the ending of Avengers: Infinity War, where Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) has just accomplished his mission and wiped out half the universe. This leaves Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) stranded in space with Nebula (Karen Gillian), starved and without oxygen. They are both rescued by Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and join up with the remaining Avengers on earth. The team gets an alert that the Infinity Stones were once again used and head to a deserted planet to find that Thanos had used the stones to destroy the stones. In a shocking twist, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) uses his axe to “go for the head” and decapitates Thanos.

5 years later, and the remaining half of the universe is trying to move on. Things take a turn, though, when Scott Lang’s Ant-Man (played by Paul Rudd) is freed from being stuck in the quantum realm during those 5 years and meets up with Natasha Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johansson) and Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans). He explains that his time in the quantum realm only felt like a couple of hours and he conducts a plan to use the quantum realm for time travel, in order to get the infinity stones from the past and use them to bring everyone back. Although Tony has found a home with his wife, Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and their young daughter, Morgan (Lexi Rabe), it is the prospect of getting back Peter Parker (Tom Holland) that convinces him to create the time machine. The rest of the team is rallied and separated into six different teams to acquire the six different infinity stones.

They accomplish their mission, but at a cost. Because the soul stone requires a soul, Natasha sacrifices herself so that Clint Barton’s Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) can live to bring back the stone. Desperate to make her sacrifice count, Bruce Banner’s Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) uses the Iron Man gauntlet to snap his fingers and bring everyone back. However, the mission had been further complicated when Thanos from 2014 kidnaps Nebula from the present (2023) and sends 2014 Nebula to 2023 to bring him and his entire army there. A battle ensues, and right when it seems like the remaining Avengers are down for the count, portal after portal opens up, and out of them comes the heroes who were dusted: Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) army of sorcerers, the Wakandan army, and pretty much every single superhero from the MCU. This brings about the most epic battle in MCU history, and all ends when Tony Stark obtains the stones and uses his Iron Man gauntlet to snap his fingers and dust Thanos and his entire army. However, the power that almost destroyed the Hulk is too much for Tony, and he dies surrounded by his loved ones.

Avengers: Endgame was truly a grand finale, as it celebrates years and years of Marvel cinematic history. The time travel scenes revisit and play homage to the first Avengers movie, the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World, Agent Carter, and even the original Ant-Man comics with Hank Pym as Ant-Man. What better way to celebrate the multitude of Marvel films over the years than to have all the characters assemble as Avengers to defeat Thanos in the final battle? Audiences finally get the chance to hear Captain America utter the words “Avengers, assemble!” and the 10-year long story starts and ends with Tony Stark’s iconic declaration, “I am Iron Man”.

Despite the deaths and goodbyes to fans’ favorite characters, the Russo brothers truly provided a great amount of “fan service”. Natasha’s death was shocking and devastating but makes the anticipation for her solo Black Widow movie in 2020 that much greater. Before audiences had to say good-bye to Chris Evans’ Captain America, they got to see him worthy of wielding Mjolnr before he went back in time to the 40s to settle down with Peggy Carter. The Captain America mantle is then handed off to Sam Wilson’s Falcon (Anthony Mackie), setting up the Falcon and Winter Soldier show for the future. Tony Stark is able to have a family with Pepper and Morgan and happily reunites with Peter Parker. His death is beautiful and tragic all at once, as he watches his greatest enemy turn to dust before his eyes and is surrounded by those he loves most, leaving behind an enormous legacy and a grateful universe.

The Russo Brothers’ 2019 film Avengers: Endgame is an epic finale that will be remembered for years to come.

Vivian Rodriguez | Writing Contributor
B.A | Film Studies | California Baptist University
Hi! My name is Vivian and I am a Film Production major at California Baptist University. I hope to become a director and cinematographer in the future. I enjoy all kinds of movies, from Disney musicals to epic Marvel films to sappy Rom Coms. When I’m not making movies, watching movies, or talking about movies, I spend my days at Disneyland, the beach, or the local froyo shop. I strive to find positivity and creativity everywhere I go! My motto in life is from the book of Romans 12:21, “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. Instagram @vivianrcdriguez | View My Projects